Reconstructing the Gait Pattern of a Korean Cadaver with Bilateral Lower Limb Asymmetry Using a Virtual Humanoid...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Biomechanics
• Computational modeling

Background:

• Analysis of a Korean female cadaver with bilateral lower limb bone asymmetry.
• Presence of abnormal curvature and callus formation on the left femoral midshaft.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a combined osteometric and biomechanical analysis of lower limb bone asymmetry.
• To investigate the influence of skeletal asymmetry on gait dynamics and directional control using virtual models.

Main Methods:

• Standardized osteometric measurements to assess bilateral bone length and width differences.
• Development of three gait models using Meta Motivo (open-source reinforcement learning platform).
• Analysis of gait patterns, stride dynamics, and directional control in normal and asymmetric models.

Main Results:

• Consistent shorter and narrower left lower limb bones compared to the right.
• Bilateral lower limb length discrepancy ranging from 39-42 mm (femur: 6 mm, tibia: 33 mm, fibula: 36 mm).
• Asymmetric models showed compensatory overuse of the left limb, leftward veering, and partial gait normalization with learned adaptations.

Conclusions:

• Integrative approach highlights biomechanical consequences of lower limb bone discrepancy.
• Virtual agent-based modeling effectively elucidates compensatory gait adaptations.
• Demonstrates the utility of computational models in understanding skeletal asymmetry effects on locomotion.